The issue is Illustrator uses mostly single core processes so if you have a 16 core processor, it doesn't matter and most likely the speed of a single core in a newer pc is lower because it's relying on multicore rather than single core speeds. My 15 year old laptop is a 4.3ghz duocore and it runs Illustrator faster than another laptop which is an 8 core 3.6ghz processor. On top of that Illustrtaor is problematic with most GPUs which is why it's always the default solution to disable GPU performance. So, it's 2024, and we are running single core software with our GPUs disabled. It's a downgrade.

Adobe doesn't care. They really don't. In 10 years, it will still be the same primitive codeset. Only when real competition comes along (*that they can't acquire) will things start to change.

They have zero motivation except for gaining new subscribers.

This. Illustrator is legacy code with new bandaids on top. It's such a patchy pile of garbage that can't handle processing, doesn't use even a quarter of your resources and just feels more and more like the wrong tool for professionals with each passing day.

Did anything ever come of this? It's 2022, I'm running a ryzen 9 5950x with rtx 3070 and 64gb ram and Illustrator is worse than on my 11 year old macbook pro 16 inch. I've tried everything I can think of.

Hey guys - I had the same issue, try checking this out

EDIT>>PREFERENCE>>PERFORMANCE

There is a GPU Performance Boost option with Animated Zoom, if you turn these off you will find a smoother experience.

There is also a Real-Time Drawing and Editing option, you can try toggling this as well if that helps!

I'm running AMD 3950x (Wiaint for 5950x) annd RTX 3090, from an I7-6600 and GTX 1070. I was wondering why my I7 build was faster.

UPDATE: Also check to see which preview you are in meaning CPU PREVIEW or GPU PREVIEW. On your tab you will see the file name @ view percentage (Color Space Used/ PREVIEW) . If it says "PREVIEW" only, you are in GPU preview. Press CTRL+E to swap between two previews on windows (I think CMD+E on Mac). "CPU PREVIEW" will use the preview from CPU instead. This will smooth everything out!

I have Ryzen 9 5900X an upgrade from my i7 6700k and the Ryzen feels way slower then the old i7
common adobe fix this. and I'm running illustrator 2021 25.1

Hey there THREAD! I'm still spying on thix x570 platform, looking to get the new 5950 or 5900 from AMD, but while reading all the comments, i'm really backing down.

So you guys have had any improvements on the latest Illustrator 25 (2021)? Is it worth going on AMD today?

wish id found this last month, i just built a new pc (3950x, 64gb 3200mhz ram, RTX 2080 super) as i was getting frustrated with my 2017 macbook pro being slow in illsutrator... imagine my frustration now that this new machine which should be on paper 4x quicker than the laptop is actually slower at making pdfs.

after an hour or more working with adobe helpdesk and even letting them remote access to the machine they havent been able to solve the issue, only commenting that it might be caused by my lack of onboard graphics drivers. as i understand it the motherboard graphics drivers work in conjuction with adobe, so them not being there is causing issues. which is insane since im not even using the onboard graphics and the current gen of AMD processors dont even support onboard graphics.

its a crazy situation, which i think my only solution is to try and use a Quadro 4000 as that is at least officially supported in illustrator, but i have a feeling even that wont work any better.

it really is appaling that they are pushing out updates to this platform but arnt actually making the software compatible with current generation hardware

I agree.. I was using illustrator with my
old intel i7 4770 + 20GB RAM, RX580 and bought a new computer
AMD 3800x + RTX 2080 + 64GB 3200Mhz RAM and the save speed is the same which means I have to wait till it save the file which is not even heavy.

I agree. Their employees must be overworked or there is not enough quality control. Fewer updates with more thorough testing before release. I'm tired of being their ongoing beta tester. Software companies used to offer free use of beta products in exchange for beta testing, but now they just force the testing on to us while we pay egregiously high monthly fees to be able to RENT the perpetually broken software.

I'm going to be slowly moving all my work to Affinity. Their programs are beautiful, more complete, and ever improving. Additionally, Affinity offers FREE updates. If we all switch over, may Adobe will figure out that their model is broken.

AMD and new CPUS/GPUS realy bad with illustrator
New CPUS/GPUS realy bad performance with illustrator.

Hello Adobe, i recently bought new computers for our company becouse people were complaining about Illustrator beeing slow.

These are the new computers:
-AMD 3900x + RTX 2080 + 64GB 3600Mhz ram + win10 1903
-AMD 3700x + 5700XT + 32GB 3200Mhz ram + win10 1903

After trying out Illustrator on these systems i thought to myself.......why do we even use Illustrator?

How come a 3000 euro computer runs slow with overprint ON with simple squares drawn on the art board???

I want Adobe to explain to me why a I7 6700 with a GTX960 and 16GB ram runs the same project, smoother than a 3000 euro state of the art computer????

If i put the resolution of these PC.s to FHD, the program runs normaly, not faster, not slower, just plain normal.
If i put the native resolution of the monitor wich is 1440p, Illustrator is simply a chunk of **** software unable to use that kind of native resolution without breaking itself apart, it is simply unusable in 2k.
So.....solution, putting everything in 1080p.

Great, so there is no real reason for people to buy high end computers to run the software fast, when in fact your software only uses 1 or 2 cores and 2 or 3 GB of ram and doesnt use the hardware available to do the work it is supose to do!!!

We are in 2019!!!! The year 2004 was 15 year ago!!!!!

I have 31 computers working with AI and the oldest computers are the ones who work best....this is just plain ridiculous and a total embarrassment for a company like Adobe to let this software run like this.

Illustrator is a PRODUCTION SOFTWARE!!!!! We, at our company and tones of other people pay thousands of euros every year to be able to produce with Illustrator and the software is simply not able to keep up with todays demands for performance and productivity along with every version that comes out getting worse and worse and worse.

PLEASE ADOBE adress the performance issues!!!!!!
We do not need fancy features if the BASICS dont work at ALL!!
We need AI to use the hardware it is given!!! so the better the hardware the better the software runs....this is simple!!!

PLEASE work on the performance issues with AMD CPU.s(wich are a lot better now than intel) work on the performance issues with AMD cards(wich in mid range are BETTER than nvideas)

You guys need to address everything related to performance with Illustrator.
The program is starting to become trash and people are quiting Adobe becouse of this.

PLEASE, address this issue.
Thank you very much in advance.